Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan continues to build a hefty lead in fundraising over her Democratic opponent, James Tedesco, getting large boosts from a leading state Republican and the county committee, according to the most recent round of campaign finance reports.

But those reports also show that Donovan, a Rutherford Republican seeking election to a second four-year term, has spent virtually everything she has raised so far, while Tedesco, a freeholder from Paramus, has about $30,000 in his campaign bank account.

Donovan's biggest single contributor was the campaign fund of state Sen. Kevin O'Toole, R-Cedar Grove, which contributed $8,200. The Bergen County Republican Organization also contributed $5,000 to the Donovan campaign.

Both sides acknowledge it is still relatively early in a race that is expected to be one of the most closely watched campaigns in New Jersey this fall.

Reports filed with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission show that as of June 23, Donovan's campaign has raised a cumulative total of $206,653, compared with $39,010 over the same period for the Tedesco campaign.

Donovan's campaign manager Mark Campbell said Thursday that the gap between the two candidates show the race is trending in her favor.

"Very simply, nobody believes Tedesco has any chance of winning," Campbell said. "Nobody bets on the slowest horse in the race."

But Tedesco campaign manager Michael Pagan said the fundraising difference between the two campaigns will evaporate over the next few months.

"We're confident that we'll raise enough money to run an effective campaign," Pagan said, noting that his candidate entered the race only in January while Donovan has had her entire first term to raise funds.

He also said Tedesco's lead in money still in the bank is significant. "This is about cash on hand and it's clear we have more cash on hand than her campaign."

Both candidates raised similar sums in the time frame covered by the most recent reporting period, with Donovan raising $21,700 while Tedesco raised $18,970.

More than half of Tedesco's funds came in contributions of $300 or less while more than 90 percent of Donovan's contributors each gave more than $300.

Donovan's campaign also got a big boost from contributors in Carlstadt including $1,250 each from County Public Works Director Joe Crifasi and his wife, Darlene, $1,500 from the Carlstadt Republican Campaign Committee and another $1,500 from the Carlstadt-based District 36 GOP fund.

Donovan's campaign listed $5,700 in excessive campaign donations that were returned to donors, including $1,200 refunded to Hackensack lawyer Robert Galantucci and $2,000 to Thomas Bruinooge, who formerly served as attorney for the Bergen County Improvement Authority.

The campaign also refunded $2,500 to Michael Adler, president of GridSmart, a Boston company that the county has contracted with to help pool its bulk purchasing power and negotiate competitive rates for electricity.

Campbell said the refunds were part of an internal campaign finance compliance unit which routinely checks to make sure all contributions are within the limits allowed.

Tedesco received several donations from labor unions, including $1,000 each from Local 164 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Local 134 of the Police Benevolent Association, which represents Bergen County Sheriff's officers.

That PBA has sued Donovan over her refusal to implement a labor agreement negotiated with Sheriff Michael Saudino and approved by the freeholders. An appellate court last month ordered Donovan to honor the contract. She is seeking to appeal that ruling to the state Supreme Court.

Tedesco's campaign also received $500 each from the Northeast Council of Carpenters in Edison, and the Edgewater and Hackensack Democratic Organizations.